Jury discharged in racism trial

7:20am Saturday 6th September 2008

A crown court jury has failed to agree whether a right-wing leader used a megaphone to shout racist obscenities in a South Oxhey shopping precinct.

Kevin Quinn, 43, stood accused of using a megaphone to broadcast a racist tirade, during which he was alleged to have called for the execution of Muslims.

Along with several members of his British First Party, Mr Quinn was accused of setting up a stall in The Parade in December last year, handing out leaflets and shouting his “‘manifesto” through a loudspeaker.

St Albans Crown Court heard he then bellowed that muslims were “bastards” and “terrorists”.

Mr Quinn was charged with religiously aggravated harassment.

However, after failing to come to an agreement, the jury was discharged on Tuesday.

Mr Quinn took to the witness box and told the court he established the British First Party two years ago, at the end of 2006.

Asked for his party policies, he said: “Our line on immigration would be that we need to stop all immigration coming into this country and have stronger controls.

“Abortion is my strongest issue – I don’t believe in any form of abortion at all.

“And on law and order we need to be stronger. If youngsters commit a crime they should be sent to a boot camp.”

Quinn, from Bedford, told the court that he did not use any abusive or insulting language at the South Oxhey rally.

“The megaphone wasn’t working properly that day, so I stopped using it,” he said, “it kept cutting out and making my voice sound funny.

“I would never ever use bad language. My role is to lead by example.

“I tried to smarten up the image of the right wing – hence the party tie.

“I was there to recruit, not to insult people.”

The Crown Prosecution Service must now decide whether to request a retrial.